It’s hard to believe, but Super Rugby 2017 is just around the corner, with the Sharks playing their first match – against the Reds in Brisbane – in just 12 days’ time.
The team will leave Durban on Saturday for their Australian tour, which also includes a game against the Brumbies in Canberra. Rob du Preez will name his squad for the tour at 11am local time on Thursday, while also confirming the reduced squad for the entire competition.
I don’t anticipate any major new injury concerns ahead of that announcement, although I believe a niggle or two may surface after Friday’s run-out against a Bulls XV. We expect du Preez’s thoughts on that match, and an injury report, later today.
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Can’t wait anymore!!!! I just have one wish…a good start with continous improvement and increased discipline.
By all accounts it seems the youngster Van Rensburg is 2nd choice flyhalf. I wonder who will be 3rd choice or if they will just use Bosch and then pick another outside back. The rest pretty much picks itself, injuries aside
Can’t believe it’s almost that time again!!!
To be contenders in this years Super rugby Sharks must get 6-8 points from this tour!!! Go Sharks!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : Must be April
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : have a bash at picking 28 for this tour? Not all that straightforward.
@The hound (Comment 4) : jaaaaaa, like Rob du Preez is going to pick April 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Well lets have a go:
Starting : 1. Beast 2. Marais 3. Adriaanse 4. Oosthuizen 5. Botha 6. VD Walt 7. DuPreez 8. Mthembu 9. Reinach 10. Lambie 11. Mvovo 12. Esterhuizen 13. Am 14. Van Wyk 15. Bosch
Bench: 16. DuToit (if fit) 16. Chilliboy 17. Oosthuizen 18. Vermuelen 19. Deysel 20. Claasens 22. Van Rensburg 23. Ward
Extras: 24. Meyer 25. Coetzee 26. Droste 27. Poitrenaud 28. Smith
Here’s my pick for the tour:
Beast, Thomas (if fit)
Marais, Chilli, Coetzee
Adriaanse, Coenie, Meyer
Oosthuizen, Botha, Lewies
JLdP, Terra, Vermeulen, Deysel, Ginger
Reinach, Claasens
Pat, Benhard
Am, Esterhuizen, Ward
Mvovo, van Wyk, Sithole
Bosch, Frenchie
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : you need a third scrummie, no?
@JD (Comment 8) : this is very close to what I would pick, except as above you need a third scrumhalf.
Today’s injury report might just complicate the front row selections.
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Thats actually a sad indictment on the Sharks that a guy ,who less than a year ago was on the Bok bench ,can’t make third choice at the Sharks.
Something rotten at work here.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : I dont know. It really is a waste of a spot as its really only an injury cover and would never be used unless an injury. In my side picked it would mean leaving out Smith then and i guess a replacement could be flown over if required then. 3rd choice scrummy at the moment…toss up between Venter and Gouws i think
@The hound (Comment 11) : maybe teh rotten thing is him being selected for the Boks on the basis of 160 minutes of decent rugby?
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : you’re in kak if your reserve scrummy pulls up injured at captains, though…. that’s the nightmare scenario.
@robdylan (Comment 14) : Yeh i guess that is the gamble. I do see the merits of having to take the extra hooker (although required by law) and extra scrummy. So yeh id just change Smith for Venter or Gouws then. But overall think the 28 picks itself
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Agreed. Should never have happened.
@SheldonK (Comment 15) : I heard something about Coenie learning to chuck in….. might be worth a gamble on him touring as a utility prop/hooker…. very very risky, though.
@robdylan (Comment 17) : If it had been trialed in preseason id be happy but not now no. If Lewies fit he would possibly replace Droste but thats also risky considering he hasnt played. So yeh i dont think anyone else to come in really unless from what ive seen Van Rensburg isnt 2nd choice
@SheldonK (Comment 18) : I suspect both du Toit and Lewies will tour.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : That would be my take on it – the selection and then the kick up the arse out of the Bok setup. The blokes confidence must have been totally shot.
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Lewies for Droste then. But silly move. Same as playing DuToit as neither will be fully fit. RDP needs to back his depth
@robdylan (Comment 17) : For a brief second I was imagining Coenie as utility scrummie with that ‘chuck-in’ comment. He has shed a few pounds after all.
@SheldonK (Comment 21) : agree at lock…. not sure we’ll have that option at prop
@robdylan (Comment 23) : To be honest we gonna need that option as im just saying it now that DuToit and Coenie wont stay fit all year
@SheldonK (Comment 24) : yes, but I think Meyer might have a niggle after Friday. Not sure what the prognosis is
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Ah ok fair enough then.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Ja had in mind to pick 5 props, 3 hookers and 3 scrumhalfs but forgot about the last one after I picked the forwards! Probably Vermeulen (or Deysel) to miss tour for a third scrumhalf (probably Venter).
@JD (Comment 27) : I’d pick Vermeulen to tour over Deysel. More utility
@The hound (Comment 11) : @robdylan (Comment 13) : don’t know the dynamic at training but RdP Snr seems to pick players on form not personal vendettas!
The way April was treated was a travesty but by AC and the Bok management not by the Sharks. Anyway that was more than 6 months ago so the player needs to step up and show in training that the coach needs to pick him on performance not on the fact that he was training with the Bokke in June!!!
@robdylan (Comment 28) : maybe but less experience and remember Deysel can also cover 4 lock and with all the locks on tour being able to cover 5 that should not be a problem!?
@JD (Comment 30) : sure, but I just look at the energy Vermeulen brings to the game and simply cannot justify selecting Wolla over him. That would be a sentimental selection
@robdylan (Comment 31) : I picked team on very little viewing and a lot of past experience so would not have to many complaints if Vermeulen was picked over Deysel.
@JD (Comment 32) : @robdylan (Comment 31) : guys, is there a restriction on how many players you can take on tour ?
remember joe petersen having to come on late as a scrummie against the jaguares in arg and doin pretty well
Im sure april will fight his way back into the first team, even at fullback
what is the restriction on how many player you can name in your super rugby squad ?
@revolverocelot (Comment 33) : 1. Think touring squads is 28 players.
2. Joe P is at the Stormers so can’t cover scrummie at the Sharks 😉
3. April will have to show that he’s hungry and will have to work hard before he will be back in match 23 but I do think he has the ability to do it.
4. I have no idea how many players maybe named in the official season Super rugby squad.
Go Sharks!!
@revolverocelot (Comment 33) : @JD (Comment 34) : Talking about Joe P playing at SH that game, do you guys think April would be better suited at SH? He sure has some gas, he can obviously distribute well and he’s very nippy, just a thought.